Apparatus for cutting and printing veneer



p 30,'1930. M. E. MILLEK 1,776,977

' APPARATUS FOR CUTTING AND PRINTING VENEER Filed Jan. 24, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l p 30, 1930. M. E. MILLER 1,776,977

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING AND PRINTING VENEER Filed Jan. 24, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 flmwlifllillen 31mm Sept. 30, 1930. 7 M. E. MILLER 1,776,977

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING AND PRINTING VENEER Filed Jan. 24, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented Sept. 30, 1930 MAX EMMETT MILLER, or rA-ntrcAmkENTUcKY Application filed January 24, 1929. serial N.o. 334,758.

This invention relates to apparatus for cutting and printing veneer.

Heretofore in the manufacture of baskets and other articles formed of veneer, it has 3 been necessary first to cut the veneer and thereafter, either prior to or following the formation of articles of veneer, to apply trade-marks and the like by means .of rubber stamps operated by hand. This'method of marking has been unsatisfactory because it is slow, frequently produces an unsatisfactory impression, and adds materially to the cost of production.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism whereby the cutting and printing operations can take place simultaneously so that the sheets of veneer,a's delivered from the vener lathe will bear the desired impressions that are subsequently to 0 appear on the baskets or other merchandise" produced from the stock.

Another object is to provide a printing mechanism adapted to be driven by the log acted on by the lathe, the printing mechanism being so constructed as to supply ink in proper quantities to the printing roll.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in certain novel details of construction and steps of the method hereinafter more fully described and claimed, it being understood that changes in. the precise'embodiment of the.

A invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings,

lathe having the presentimprovements combined therewith.

Figure 2 is a section on line 22, Figure 1. i V

Figure 3 is an elevation of one side of the printing mechanism.

Figure 4 is an elevation of the opposite side thereof.

Figure 5 is a mechanism.

i plan view of the printing 5O Figure l is a front elevation of a veneer UN13 13 1 813 111 S ArEiTYoFFlCE Figureois a section online 66, Figure 4."

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates a veneer latheof any ordinary construction provided with the us ualln ife' 2 adapted to cut veneer from a log L mounted for rotation upon' and supported by the lathe I i r The printing mechanism associated with the lathe can be-mounted in any manner dc sired. For example, standards 3 can be erectedon the end portions of the lathe, these standards being connected attheir upper ends by a cross strip 4. Brackets 5may" be extended from intermediate portions of the standards to support a cross rod '6.

In the structure illustratedtwofprinting mechanisms have been shown it is to be understood that any desired. number can be used in connection with-the lathe. As the two printing mechanisms illustrated are of the same construction, a description of one will suflice. r V

Alever 7 is .fulcrumed on the rod 6 and one end portion thereof constitutes a handle 8 while the other end portion isgconnected to a rope 9 or other flexible element extend ing over a guide pulley 10 suspended from strip 4.. The rope can be looped between the pulleysandfprovided with a ring 11 which, when placed in engagement'with a hook 12 on the lathe structure, will support those ends oft-he' two levers 7 to whichthe flexible element Sis secured.

Secured to'each lever 7 at that end remote from handle 8 is a yoke 13. A link 14 is pivotally mounted on the yoke at one sideof lever 7 and a handle.15 is piv@otally mounted 'onflthe. yoke at the other side of the lever.

Journaledbetween the link andone' end of the handle an ink spreading roll- 16 which bears upon and isadapted to receive motion from a large ink distributing roll 17 journaled-inthe yoke 13 and provided'with apulley 18. A-- printing roll 19' is also jour naled within the yokebut is supported below the distributing roll 17; A pulley 20-rotates f with printing roll 19 and is operatively con-, nected to pulley 18 by a crossed belt 21.

Inter'pos'edbetween the loweriportions of the rolls 17 and 19 are small transfer rolls 22 and 23 the trunnions 24: of which are slidably mounted in slots 25 formed in the sides of the yoke 13. Springs 26 are attached to the sides of yoke 13 and have diverging springs 27 extending therefrom and connected to trunnions 2&. Thus the transfer rolls are held normally pressed together yieldingly and also normally pressed against the rolls 17 and 19.

The transfer roll 22 is formed preferably of rubber composition while roll 23 is formed preferably of felt.

The weight of the several rolls and the arts associated therewith is suflicient to bolt the printing roll normally applied with suiiicient pressure to the periphery of the log L to print an impression thereon. \Vhen the lathe opcrates so as to cause rotation of the log in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2 motion will be transmitted therefrom to the printing roll 19 which, in turn will transmit motion through the belt 21 to the distributing roll 17. These two rolls will also cause the transfer rolls 22 and 2.3 to rotate and the spreading roll will also be actuated. Ink is applied to the spreading roll and transferred thereby to the distributing roll. Handle 15 is oscillated by the operator to cause reciprocation of the spreading roll and this will result in even spreading of the ink over the distributing roll. Rolls 22 and 23 will convey the ink to the printing roll so that the desired impressions will be made on the log im mediately prior to the cutting operation.

\Vhen it desired to place a log in or re move it from position the printing devices can be lifted by means of the rope 9 and these devices can be supported in raised position by placing ring 11 in engagement with hook 12. Obviously means other than that shown and described can be used for supporting the printing devices in inactive position.

By providing the handles 8 the printing rolls 19 can be-pressed tightly against the pcriphery of the log by thrusting upwardly against the handles.

Veneer produced by a lathe equipped as herein described will be ready to be cut and shaped to produce baskets or other articles of merchandise each of which will display one or more of the impressions produced on the veneer by the printing mechanism.

lVhat is claimed is:

The combination with a veneer lathe for supporting and rotating a log, of a lever pivotally mounted above and supported by the lathe, a handle in one'end of .the lever print ing mechanism at the other end of the lever for engaging and printing upon the peripl1- cry of the rotatmg log, said mechanism including an ink-spreading roller, anda handle for reciprocating the roller, the handle on .the lever constituting means for transmitting thrust through the printing mechanism and against the log, a flexible actuating element connected to the lever adjacent to the printing mechanism, a gulde for the lntermediate portion of said element, and cooperating means on said flexible element and the lathe I 

